How to Use Instagram in Your Small Business Development

For many people there is definitely a love-hate relationship with Instagram. Now that it is a property of Facebook it does have many quirks that you need to know about in order to be successful on that social media channel.

Instagram is only an app based product. While you can sign up and configure settings using a desktop or laptop, all of your posting needs to be through the Instagram app. Most people will use this either through their phone or a tablet. Personally I think it’s easier using a phone.

Instagram is only image-based. Users will post an image and then use the description area to discuss a topic. You can create your own images using a picture app, like Canva or PicMonkey, with or without text on them.

Using Hashtags on Instagram

In order to get engagement on your images, hashtags are extremely important. If you are familiar with Twitter then you understand that most of the time people will use three, maybe four hashtags, at the most.

This is where Instagram is definitely different. To get likes, you need to use at least 10 hashtags, if not more. Especially if you are a new account.

If you are an existing account with a decent amount of followers, maybe over 1000, then you may not have to use that many hashtags, if you choose. Many people with personal accounts will only use a few hashtags, as the post is mainly for their followers only.

How to Use Instagram in Your Small Business

But in order to grow your engagement and followers, you need to converse, answer and develop conversations yourself. Comment and like on other people’s posts. Follow those that you have information and posts that interest you. A lot of people will return the favor.

Because this is a Facebook owned company now, in order to be seen in other people’s feeds you need to be active. Instagram is all about engagement with each other.

The algorithms in the feed means that you may not see someone’s posts every single day. Or you may see posts that show up two and three days later.

How to Grow Your Followers

In order to find followers that you want to explore for your own feed, click on the magnifying glass and explore by either hashtag or by name. You also have the ability to pull in your Facebook friends and follow those people, should they have an Instagram account. You will also see recommendations of people but you can follow.

Following, liking, and commenting on other people’s posts is the best way to develop and grow your own following.

Make sure that you are offering posts of value so other people want to follow your account. Everyone’s time is valuable so give them a reason to follow you.

If you want to grow your Instagram site, contact us for ways we can help!